WLAN

 WLAN stands for Wireless Local Area Network.

 WLAN is a local area network that uses radio

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

communication to provide mobility to the
network users while maintaining the

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connectivity to the wired network.
 A WLAN basically, extends a wired local area
2
network.
 WLAN

 WLAN’s are built by attaching a device

called the access point(AP) to the edge of

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

the wired network.
 Clients communicate with the AP using a

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wireless network adapter which is similar
in function to an Ethernet adapter. 3
 The performance of WLAN is high compared to
other wireless networks.
 The coverage of WLAN is within a campus or

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

building or that tech park.

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 It is used in the mobile propagation of wired
networks.
 The standards of WLAN are HiperLAN, Wi-Fi, 4

and IEEE 802.11.

 It offers service to the desktop laptop, mobile
application, and all the devices that work on the
Internet.
 WLAN is an affordable method and can be set up in 24

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

hours.
 WLAN gives users the mobility to move around within a

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local coverage area and still be connected to the
network.
 Most latest brands are based on IEE 802.11 standards, 5
which are the WI-FI brand name.
 Wireless Local Area Network
History

A professor at the University of Hawaii who’s name was

Norman Abramson, developed the world’s first wireless
computer communication network. In 1979, Gfeller and u.
Bapst published a paper in the IEE proceedings reporting an
experimental wireless local area network using diffused

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

infrared communications. The first of the IEEE workshops on
Wireless LAN was held in 1991.

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WLAN Architecture
Components in Wireless LAN architecture as per IEEE
standards are as follows:
Stations: Stations consist of all the equipment that is used to
connect all wireless LANs. Each station has a wireless network
controller.

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

Base Service Set(BSS): It is a group of stations communicating
at the physical layer.
Extended Service Set(ESS): It is a group of connected Base

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Service Set(BSS).
Distribution Service (DS): It connects all Extended Service
Set(ESS).
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Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

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Types of WLANs
• As per IEEE standard WLAN is categorized into two basic
modes, which are as follows:
• Infrastructure: In Infrastructure mode, all the endpoints are
connected to a base station and communicate through that;
and this can also enable internet access. A WLAN

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

infrastructure can be set up with: a wireless router (base
station) and an endpoint (computer, mobile phone, etc). An
office or home WiFi connection is an example of Infrastructure

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mode.
• Ad Hoc: In Ad Hoc mode WLAN connects devices without a
base station, like a computer workstation. An Ad Hoc WLAN is
easy to set up it provides peer-to-peer communication. It
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requires two or more endpoints with built-in radio
transmission.
Working of WLAN
WLAN transmits data over radio signals and the data is sent in
the form of a packet. Each packet consists of layers, labels, and
instructions with unique MAC addresses assigned to
endpoints. This enables routing data packets to correct
locations.

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

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How is a WLAN Created ?
A WLAN is a collection of nodes interconnected with each
other for the purpose of data sharing, transmitting messages
over the internet, connecting for peer-2-peer connection etc.
As discussed above in types, it can be created in following 2
ways :-

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

1. Connecting through one base station and that could be the
router that acts as a doorway to the internet, and every other
nodes (devices like computer, smartphones) can connect to the
internet and to each other through it.

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2. Peer-2-Peer connection using the wifi direct technology. This is
more suitable for situations when we require to connect two or
more devices without internet and only for purpose of data
exchange, connecting over a same local network. 11
Is a WLAN Secure ?
Whether or not WLAN is secure depends on multiple factors
of implementation configured by the network administrator.
However, by default it has multiple security vulnerabilities. So
the security team should consider all the factor and configure
accordingly.

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

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• Following are 3 ways to ensure best security practices :-
• Encryption: Ensure that the network is using highest level of
encryption
• Authentication: There are multiple authentication mechanism, its
good to use protocols that rely on 802.1x standards like WPA-EAP

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

(Wireless Protected Acess-Extensible Authentication Protocol) for
organisation as this method ONLY gives access when correct
username and passwords are inputed. And usernames and

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passwords are not shared and are individual specific only.
• Monitor Rougue APs: The Rougue APs (Access Points) are similar
set of networks that user can unknowingly connect to where all
the activities of the user will be tracked and monitored by the bad
actor who set up the network. Hence the security team can be on 13
the lookout for such configured networks occasionally.
Characteristics of WLAN
Seamless operation.

Low power for battery use.

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

Simple management, easy to use for
everyone.

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Protection of investment in wired networks.

Robust transmission technology. 14

Advantages of WLAN
Installation speed and simplicity.
Installation flexibility.

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

Reduced cost of ownership.
Reliability.

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Mobility.
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Robustness.
 Disadvantages of WLAN
Slower bandwidth.
Security for wireless LANs is the prime concern.

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

Less capacity.
Wireless networks cost four times more than

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wired network cards.
Wireless devices emit low levels of RF which can
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be harmful to our health.
 IEEE 802.11 (WLAN) Standards
• IEEE 802.11 standard, popularly known as WiFi, lays down the
architecture and specifications of wireless LANs (WLANs). WiFi
or WLAN uses high frequency radio waves for connecting the
nodes.
• There are several standards of IEEE 802.11 WLANs. The

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

prominent among them are 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b,
802.11g, 802.11n and 802.11p. All the standards use carrier-
sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA).

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Also, they have support for both centralised base station
based as well as ad hoc networks.

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 Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C
18

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IEEE 802.11
• IEEE 802.11 was the original version released in 1997. It
provided 1 Mbps or 2 Mbps data rate in the 2.4 GHz band and
used either frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) or
direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS). It is obsolete now.

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

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IEEE 802.11a
• 802.11a was published in 1999 as a modification to 802.11,
with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)
based air interface in physical layer instead of FHSS or DSSS of
802.11. It provides a maximum data rate of 54 Mbps operating
in the 5 GHz band. Besides it provides error correcting code.

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

As 2.4 GHz band is crowded, relatively sparsely used 5 GHz
imparts additional advantage to 802.11a.
• Further amendments to 802.11a are 802.11ac, 802.11ad,

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802.11af, 802.11ah, 802.11ai, 802.11aj etc.

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IEEE 802.11b
• 802.11b is a direct extension of the original 802.11 standard
that appeared in early 2000. It uses the same modulation
technique as 802.11, i.e. DSSS and operates in the 2.4 GHz
band. It has a higher data rate of 11 Mbps as compared to 2
Mbps of 802.11, due to which it was rapidly adopted in

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

wireless LANs. However, since 2.4 GHz band is pretty crowded,
802.11b devices faces interference from other devices.
• Further amendments to 802.11b are 802.11ba, 802.11bb,

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802.11bc, 802.11bd and 802.11be.

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IEEE 802.11g
• 802.11g was indorsed in 2003. It operates in the 2.4 GHz band
(as in 802.11b) and provides a average throughput of 22
Mbps. It uses OFDM technique (as in 802.11a). It is fully
backward compatible with 802.11b. 802.11g devices also faces
interference from other devices operating in 2.4 GHz band.

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

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IEEE 802.11n
• 802.11n was approved and published in 2009 that operates on
both the 2.4 GHz and the 5 GHz bands. It has variable data
rate ranging from 54 Mbps to 600 Mbps. It provides a marked
improvement over previous standards 802.11 by incorporating
multiple-input multiple-output antennas (MIMO antennas).

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

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IEEE 802.11p
• 802.11 is an amendment for including wireless access in
vehicular environments (WAVE) to support Intelligent
Transportation Systems (ITS). They include network
communications between vehicles moving at high speed and
the environment. They have a data rate of 27 Mbps and

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

operate in 5.9 GHz band.

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HiperLAN
• HiperLAN stands for High performance LAN. While all of the previous technologies have been
designed specifically for an adhoc environment, HiperLAN is derived from traditional LAN
environments and can support multimedia data and asynchronous data effectively at high
rates (23.5 Mbps).
• A LAN extension via access points can be implemented using standard features of the
HiperLAN/1 specification. However, HiperLAN does not necessarily require any type of access
point infrastructure for its operation.

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

• HiperLAN was started in 1992, and standards were published in 1995. It employs the 5.15GHz
and 17.1 GHz frequency bands and has a data rate of 23.5 Mbps with coverage of 50m and
mobility< 10 m/s.
• It supports a packet-oriented structure, which can be used for networks with or without a
central control (BS-MS and ad-hoc). It supports 25 audio connections at 32kbps with a

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maximum latency of 10 ms, one video connection of 2 Mbps with 100 ms latency, and a data
rate of 13.4 Mbps.
• HiperLAN/1 is specifically designed to support adhoc computing for multimedia systems,
where there is no requirement to deploy a centralized infrastructure. It effectively supports
MPEG or other state of the art real time digital audio and video standards.
• The HiperLAN/1 MAC is compatible with the standard MAC service interface, enabling support
for existing applications to remain unchanged. 25
• HiperLAN 2 has been specifically developed to have a wired infrastructure, providing short-
range wireless access to wired networks such as IP and ATM.
• The two main differences between HiperLAN types 1 and 2 are
as follows:
• Type 1 has a distributed MAC with QoS provisions, whereas
type 2 has a centralized schedule MAC.
• Type 1 is based on Gaussian minimum shift keying (GMSK),

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

whereas type 2 is based on OFDM.
• HiperLAN/2 automatically performs handoff to the nearest
access point. The access point is basically a radio BS that

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covers an area of about 30 to 150 meters, depending on the
environment. MANETs can also be created easily.

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The goals of HiperLAN are as
follows:
 QoS (to build multiservice network)

 Strong security

 Handoff when moving between local area and wide

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

areas

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 Increased throughput

 Ease of use, deployment, and maintenance

 Affordability 27

 Scalability
• One of the primary features of HiperLAN/2 is its high speed
transmission rates (up to 54 Mbps). It uses a modulation
method called OFDM to transmit analog signals. It is
connection oriented, and traffic is transmitted on bidirectional
links for unicast traffic and unidirectional links toward the MSs

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

for multicast and broadcast traff
• This connection oriented approach makes support for QoS
easy, which in turn depends on how the HiperLAN/2 network

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incorporates with the fixed network using Ethernet, ATM, or IP.

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 Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C
29

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 The HiperLAN/2 architecture shown in the figure
allows for interoperation with virtually any type of
fixed network, making the technology both

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

network and application independent.
 HiperLAN/2 networks can be deployed at "hot

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spot" areas such as airports and hotels, as an easy
way of offering remote access and internet 30

services.
WPAN
• Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPAN) cover a relatively
small area, typically within the range of 10 meters in radius.
The development of WPAN can be traced back to the early
days of computing when cables were used to connect devices
like printers, modems, and keyboards.

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

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• In the 1990s, a new wireless networking standard called
Bluetooth was developed by Ericsson engineers Johan Ullman
and Jaap Haartsen. They introduced it as an open specification
for short-range wireless communication between mobile
phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptops, and other

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

computers.
• The first commercial products with built-in Bluetooth
capabilities were released in 1999. These included a Motorola

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Timeport P7689 mobile phone with an embedded Bluetooth
module and an IBM ThinkPad A30 laptop computer with an
optional PC Card-based Bluetooth adapter.

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• Another critical development in WPAN technology was IEEE
802.15 group which started working on Short-Range Wireless
Personal Area Network standards in August 1999. This group
aimed at creating standards for low-power wireless
communications between nearby devices that could operate

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

without interfering with each other or other Wi-Fi networks
operating nearby.
• One of the most successful implementations of the IEEE

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802.15 standard was ZigBee – a low-cost mesh networking
protocol widely used for home automation systems, including
lighting control, heating/cooling systems control, and security
monitoring solutions.
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• WPAN has become more widespread with the emergence of
IoT (Internet-of-Things) technologies. Today several protocols
like NFC (Near Field Communication), RFID (Radio Frequency
Identification), and Wi-Fi Direct provide connectivity options
among various devices within proximity, further enhancing

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

application scenarios for these networks ranging from smart
cities to industrial automation use-cases where battery life is
critical making use

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• lower power efficient protocols over traditional LAN’s costing
significantly less power consumption overhead while providing
ubiquitous coverage never seen before expanding applications
beyond human interaction is driven ones thus further
proliferating gains made in both industry and commerce alike. 34
Types of WPAN technologies
• Bluetooth is used for connecting various devices including
smartphones; Zigbee finds its applications in home
automation & smart metering while Ultra-Wideband (UWB)
provides short-range high data rate communications.

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

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Types of WPAN technologies
Bluetooth
• Since its inception till now, Bluetooth remains one of the most widely
used WPAN technologies even today. It's known for being easy-to-use
having low power consumption capabilities that make it compatible
across a range of gadgets like laptops, smartphones, wearables & more
making it an essential tool for modern-day wireless communication.
• For instance, BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) allows wearable tech

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

products (smartwatches/fitness trackers) to communicate efficiently
without draining battery life quickly.
• With every new version launched, this technology continues to evolve

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responding effectively to user needs by providing reliable connectivity
solutions. For example, the implementation of mesh networking
fosters many-to-many connections instead of traditional pairings
expanding possible applications which includes IoT-based systems at
homes/scale industry automations where numerous nodes require 36
seamless network spectrum links.
Types of WPAN technologies
Zigbee
• Zigbee is one of the most used low-power wireless
technologies in WPANs. It enables reliable transmission of
small data packets making it ideal for home automation or
building control systems applications. Zigbee can support
thousands of connected devices simultaneously without

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

affecting throughput speed or latency.

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Advantages and Disadvantages
Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs) are a type of
wireless network that enables short-range communication
between devices. They offer numerous benefits, but also have
some disadvantages.

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

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WPAN
Benefits

Low Power Consumption

Short Range Communication

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

Cost-Effective Solution

Interoperability

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Ease of use and installation
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WPAN
Disadvantages

Security Risks

Limited Coverage Areas

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

Speed Limitations

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 Wireless Sensor Network (WSN)

Wireless Sensor Network (WSN), is an infrastructure-less

wireless network that is deployed in a large number of
wireless sensors in an ad-hoc manner that is used to monitor
the system, physical, or environmental conditions.
Sensor nodes are used in WSN with the onboard processor

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

that manages and monitors the environment in a particular
area. They are connected to the Base Station which acts as a
processing unit in the WSN System. The base Station in a WSN

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System is connected through the Internet to share data. WSN
can be used for processing, analysis, storage, and mining of
the data.

41
 Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C
42

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 Wireless Sensor Network Architecture

A Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) architecture is structured into

three main layers:
Physical Layer: This layer connects sensor nodes to the base
station using technologies like radio waves, infrared, or Bluetooth.
It ensures the physical communication between nodes and the

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

base station.
Data Link Layer: Responsible for establishing a reliable connection
between sensor nodes and the base station. It uses protocols such
as IEEE 802.15.4 to manage data transmission and ensure efficient

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communication within the network.
Application Layer: Enables sensor nodes to communicate specific
data to the base station. It uses protocols like ZigBee to define
how data is formatted, transmitted, and received, supporting 43
various applications such as environmental monitoring or
industrial control.
These layers work together to facilitate
the seamless operation and data flow

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

within a Wireless Sensor Network,
enabling efficient monitoring and data

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collection across diverse applications.
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WSN Network Topologies
 Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) can be organized into different network
topologies based on their application and network type. Here are the most
common types:
 Bus Topology: In a Bus Topology, multiple nodes are connected to a single line or
bus. Data travels along this bus from one node to the next. It’s a simple layout often
used in smaller networks.

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

 StarTopology: Star Topology have a central node, called the master node, which
connects directly to multiple other nodes. Data flows from the master node to the
connected nodes. This topology is efficient for centralized control.
 Tree Topology: Tree Topology arrange nodes in a hierarchical structure resembling a
tree. Data is transmitted from one node to another along the branches of the tree

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structure. It’s useful for expanding coverage in hierarchical deployments.
 Mesh Topology: Mesh Topology feature nodes interconnected with one another,
forming a mesh-like structure. Data can travel through multiple paths from one node
to another until it reaches its destination. This topology offers robust coverage and
redundancy.
 Each topology has its advantages and is chosen based on factors such as 45
coverage area, scalability, and reliability requirements for the specific WSN
application.
Types of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN)

Terrestrial Wireless Sensor Networks

 Used for efficient communication between base stations.

Underground Wireless Sensor Networks

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

 Nodes are buried underground to monitor underground
conditions.

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Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks
 Deployed in water environments using sensor nodes and
autonomous underwater vehicles.
46
Multimedia Wireless Sensor Networks
 Used to monitor multimedia events such as video, audio, and
images.
 Nodes equipped with microphones and cameras for data capture.
Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks (MWSNs)

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

 Composed of mobile sensor nodes capable of independent
movement.
 Offer advantages like increased coverage area, energy efficiency,

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and channel capacity compared to static networks.
 Nodes can sense, compute, and communicate while moving in
the environment.

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Each type of Wireless Sensor Network is tailored
to specific environmental conditions and
applications, utilizing different technologies and

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

strategies to achieve efficient data collection and

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communication.

48
 Applications of WSN

 Internet of Things (IoT)

 Surveillance and Monitoring for security, threat
detection

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

 Environmental temperature, humidity, and air pressure
 Noise Level of the surrounding

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 Medical applications like patient monitoring
 Agriculture
49

 Landslide Detection
 Challenges of WSN

Quality of Service

Security Issue

Energy Efficiency

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

Network Throughput

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Performance

Ability to cope with node failure

Cross layer optimization 50

Scalability to large scale of deployment

• A modern Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) faces several challenges, including:
• Limited power and energy: WSNs are typically composed of battery-powered sensors that have
limited energy resources. This makes it challenging to ensure that the network can function
for long periods of time without the need for frequent battery replacements.
• Limited processing and storage capabilities: Sensor nodes in a WSN are typically small and have
limited processing and storage capabilities. This makes it difficult to perform complex tasks or
store large amounts of data.

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

• Heterogeneity: WSNs often consist of a variety of different sensor types and nodes with
different capabilities. This makes it challenging to ensure that the network can function
effectively and efficiently.
• Security: WSNs are vulnerable to various types of attacks, such as eavesdropping, jamming, and
spoofing. Ensuring the security of the network and the data it collects is a major challenge.

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• Scalability: WSNs often need to be able to support a large number of sensor nodes and handle
large amounts of data. Ensuring that the network can scale to meet these demands is a
significant challenge.
• Interference: WSNs are often deployed in environments where there is a lot of interference
from other wireless devices. This can make it difficult to ensure reliable communication between
sensor nodes.
• Reliability: WSNs are often used in critical applications, such as monitoring the environment or 51
controlling industrial processes. Ensuring that the network is reliable and able to function
correctly in all conditions is a major challenge.
 Components of WSN

Sensors: Sensors in WSN are used to capture the

environmental variables and which is used for data
acquisition. Sensor signals are converted into electrical signals.
Radio Nodes: It is used to receive the data produced by the
Sensors and sends it to the WLAN access point. It consists of a

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

microcontroller, transceiver, external memory, and power
source.
WLAN Access Point: It receives the data which is sent by the

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Radio nodes wirelessly, generally through the internet.
Evaluation Software: The data received by the WLAN Access
Point is processed by a software called as Evaluation Software
for presenting the report to the users for further processing of
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the data which can be used for processing, analysis, storage,
and mining of the data.
 Advantages

Low cost: WSNs consist of small, low-cost sensors that are easy to
deploy, making them a cost-effective solution for many applications.
Wireless communication: WSNs eliminate the need for wired
connections, which can be costly and difficult to install. Wireless
communication also enables flexible deployment and

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

reconfiguration of the network.
Energy efficiency: WSNs use low-power devices and protocols to
conserve energy, enabling long-term operation without the need for
frequent battery replacements.

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Scalability: WSNs can be scaled up or down easily by adding or
removing sensors, making them suitable for a range of applications
and environments.
Real-time monitoring: WSNs enable real-time monitoring of
53
physical phenomena in the environment, providing timely
information for decision making and control.
 Disadvantages

• Limited range: The range of wireless communication in WSNs is limited, which

can be a challenge for large-scale deployments or in environments with
obstacles that obstruct radio signals.
• Limited processing power: WSNs use low-power devices, which may have
limited processing power and memory, making it difficult to perform complex
computations or support advanced applications.

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

• Data security: WSNs are vulnerable to security threats, such as eavesdropping,
tampering, and denial of service attacks, which can compromise the
confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data.
• Interference: Wireless communication in WSNs can be susceptible to

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interference from other wireless devices or radio signals, which can degrade
the quality of data transmission.
• Deployment challenges: Deploying WSNs can be challenging due to the need
for proper sensor placement, power management, and network configuration,
which can require significant time and resources.
• while WSNs offer many benefits, they also have limitations and challenges that 54
must be considered when deploying and using them in real-world applications.
 End of Unit #2

Instructor. Ermiyas Zena (MSc. in C

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